Willmar sells land for package sorting, distribution facility

Willmar sells land for package sorting, distribution facility

November 20, 2018

WILLMAR — A purchase agreement for 14.46 acres of land in the Willmar Industrial Park has been signed between the city of Willmar and JDC Property Group LLC. JDC is purchasing the land and constructing a package sorting and distribution facility for logistics company that so far has not been named publicly.

The sale price for the land was $650,000.

The site is located between Trott Avenue and Willmar Avenue Southwest on the west side of Kandiyohi County Road 5.

“This is a nice project, we are pleased you are coming to Willmar and we look forward to working with you in the near future,” Mayor Marv Calvin said at the Oct. 15 City Council meeting. The agreement was approved by the council unanimously and was officially signed Oct. 31.

JDC decided not to use the city’s Industrial Park Land Write-Down policy, which reduces the purchase price based on the number of new jobs and property improvements. To be eligible for the write-down, the company would have had to follow the city’s business subsidy requirements which include paying at least $14.25 per hour to all new employees.

As part of the purchase agreement, JDC agreed to several restrictive covenants to ensure no negative impact on the flight of aircraft to and from the Willmar Municipal Airport.

The city has agreed to construct a traffic signal at the intersection of Willmar Avenue Southwest and County Road 5 on or before June 1, 2020. The traffic signal, which will be similar to other stoplights in Willmar, will be completed at the city’s cost and expense, as the seller of the land, according to the agreement.

Willmar has the option to repurchase the land if JDC has not begun construction on the sorting and distribution facility within one year of the closing date. Construction, according to the agreement, means the start of physical improvements of the property beyond grading.